Present Tense vs Progressive Tense
Simple Present Tense
We use the simple present tense:
1. For facts
● Whales live in the ocean.
● Aconcagua is the highest mountain in Latin America.
● The flight from Chile to Australia is thirteen hours.
2. For repeated or regular actions
● Flights to Buenos Aires leave every hour.
● I eat breakfast at the table.
● We work every day of the week.
3. For habits
● I brush my teeth three times a day.
● He only drinks Martinis.
● We celebrate Christmas on the twenty-fifth of December.
4. For things that are generally true in the present time
period:
● Boca Juniors is the best team in Argentina at the
moment.
● She is my girlfriend.
● We study English.
Present Progressive Tense
We use the present progressive tense:
1. When somebody is doing something at this moment.
● Sarah is changing her clothes right now.
● Her boyfriend is waiting for her.
● We are learning the progressive tense in English.
2. When something is happening at this moment. When the
action has started but hasn't finished.
● It is snowing at the moment.
● The economy is growing at an exponential rate.
● The children are sleeping, so please be quiet.
3. To talk about something that is happening around the time
of speaking but not necessarily at that exact moment.
● Alfredo is studying a lot for his exam.
● I'm reading a great book. (not necessary right at this
moment)
● We are planning a trip to Jamaica.
Present vs. Progressive Tense
A significant difference between these two tenses is we use the simple present tense for things that are permanent or are in general and the
present progressive tense for things that may change or are temporary.

Compare:

Permanent Temporary

Simon lives in Birmingham. Simon is living with his friends for now.

James smokes. James is smoking in the kitchen.

We walk to work. We're walking in the park.

I speak English. I am speaking English right now.

Present Perfect Tense
Contractions
The Present Perfect Tense is formed using the following structure: The contracted form of the perfect tense is quite common:

Affirmative: Subject + Have / Has + Past Participle

Negative: Subject + Haven't / Hasn't + Past Participle Have Contraction Examples

Question: Have / Has + Subject + Past Participle

I have I've I've spent all my
Subject Have Past Rest of the money.
Sentence You have You've You've worn that
Participle dress before.

I have studied for the exam. He has He's He's slept all
morning.
You have bought a new computer. She has She's She's lost her
purse.
He has eaten my chocolate. It has It's It's fallen off the
wall.
She has written an e-mail. We have We've We've chosen you
for the job.
It has been cold this month.
You have You've You've begun to
annoy me.
We have won the championship.
They have They've They've drunk too
You have tried to learn a lot. much.

They have forgotten my birthday.

Negative Sentences Questions
The contraction of the perfect tense in negative form is: Have Subject Past Rest of the
Have not = Haven't Participle Sentence
Has not = Hasn't
Have I been chosen for the
Subject Have Past Rest of the team?
Participle Sentence
Have you bought a new car?
I haven't studied for the exam.

You haven't bought a new Has he eaten my sandwich?

computer.
He hasn't eaten my chocolate.
Has she written the letter?

She hasn't written an e-mail.

Has it started on time?
It hasn't been cold this
month. Have we won a trophy?
We haven't won the
championship.
Have you kept my secret?
You haven't tried to learn a lot.

They haven't forgotten my birthday. Have they driven there?

When do we use the Present Perfect Tense? 4. Events that recently occurred (just)
● Do you want to go to a restaurant with me?
1. Unspecified point in the past
● No, thanks. I've just eaten lunch. (I recently ate lunch.)
● I have been to Spain three times.
5. Events that have occurred up to now (yet)
● (At some unspecified time in the past, I went to Spain).
● Are Carlos and Rodrigo here? No, they haven't arrived
Compare with the simple past:
yet. (they're still not here now)
● I went to Spain three times in 2005.
6. Events that occurred before you expected (already)
● (specified time in the past - the year 2005)
● I've already graduated from University. (I expected to
2. An action that occurred in the past, but has a result in
graduate at a later date.)
the present (now)
7. Events that began in the past and haven't changed (for,
● We can't find our luggage. Have you seen it?
since)
● (The luggage was lost in the past, do you know where it
● Mike has worked at Woodward for 3 years.
is now?)
● (Mike started working at Woodward 3 years ago and he
3. Talking about general experiences (ever, never)
still works there now.)
It usually refers to an event happening at some moment in your
● Julie has worked at Woodward since September last
life.
year.
● Has she ever tried Chilean wine before? (in her life)
● (Julie began working at Woodward in September of last
● I've never eaten monkey brains before. (in my life)
year, and that hasn't changed - she still works here now.)